Apartment fire leaves building a total loss

BRUSSELS - Several families are homeless after a furnace fire destroyed an apartment building in rural Door County Sunday night.

Firefighters were called at 8:30 p.m. to the fire at 112 Rocky Road between the towns of Dyckesville and Brussels.

Curt Vandertie, chief of Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department, said heavy smoke and flames were coming from the south side of the building when crews arrived. The building, which contains four apartment units, is a former bowling alley and dance hall.

Vandertie said firefighters had trouble entering the building. By the time they got inside, flames were coming through the roof.

Weather conditions made battling the fire difficult. Vandertie said 27 units responded to the fire and firefighters worked until 7 a.m. Monday in temperatures that dipped to 7 below zero.

The biggest concern, Vandertie said, was having enough flowing water in the freezing temperatures.

Firefighters were back on the scene Monday morning to extinguish areas of the building where the fire had rekindled.

There were no injuries, but the building is a total loss, Vandertie said.

The Red Cross is assisting those displaced by the fire.

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